Nextgen Kids: Legend of the Nine Newborn

Bonus Level: The Newbies' Trials

Kazuma observed his reflection proudly: wearing a black top under an orange vest and baggy dark-green khaki shorts, he was ready to go out. He also smiled down at his new shoes: black with orange soles and laces. He looked out his window to see his new friends had arrived. He jogged downstairs and bypassed his mother in the kitchen. "Bye, Mom, they're here!"

"Is it the KND again?" asked the pregnant woman. Kiyomi Ikezawa wore a pink apron over her yellow shirt. "Not a mission, I hope."

"I'm not even done with training, Mom. But you're gonna have to get used to me being gone eventually."

"Just make sure to-" But he was already gone. "Sigh..." Kiyomi had been worried sick about him after Kazuma was trapped in Aincrad, but knowing he wanted to join KND didn't ease her concerns at all. Still, she was proud of his supposed heroism during the crisis, and she was glad that he was going out more. She had hoped that he would grow out of recording videogames eventually, but it was a huge leap to want to be a hero. Even so, she couldn't say it was a bad path to take. "I just hope it works out."

...

"Hey, dude!" Jenny greeted spritely, eying him head to toe. "Sick new duds! So weird to see you in sneakers~" She rolled her blades over the toe end. "Won't have to worry about stubbing you now."

"I'd still like it if you didn't try." Kazuma raised his foot to shake her off. "But yeah. Thought I needed a stronger change of clothes. And speaking of stronger," Kazuma reached in his pocket and fixed on some metal knuckle bracers. "I think these should give me a boost in battle!"

"Ooo, sweet!" Miko perked up, her palms open. "Test 'em out, give me some fist-palms!"

Kazuma thrusted the first fist, then the second, and built up speed as he punched Miko's palms repeatedly. His speed was like that of a mad rabbit, and they could hear the rush of wind and almost imagine the force of his fists. After a few more seconds, he stopped.

"Oooooo!" Miko rubbed her sore and dented palms. "Prob'ly shouldn't hold anything today."

"Eh heh, sorry."

"Still, with your fists and my kicks," Jenny said, "I can already imagine the skulls we're gonna break."

"Wanna test Eddy's durability?" Quill asked with a smirk.

"HEY, NO!" Eddy panicked, protecting his stomach. "He'll break me like a twig!"

"You're his fanboy, wouldn't you consider it an honor?"

"Or I could just punch you." Kazuma noted. "Bet you'd go flying across town."

"Don't even!"

"Hah! So, where we heading today, anyway? You said you wanted me to meet somebody?"

"..." The friends donned more somber expressions as Carmine spoke. "Um, yeah...come to the bus."

They led Kazuma to the Q-Bus parked on a fenced path. A feminine-looking boy with bushy brown hair, pale eyes, and a brown oversized sweater with an artist's apron was sitting by the bus, his skinny legs propped up. "...?" He saw the operatives returning, and seemed to look worriedly at the stranger with them. "Who's this kid?"

"Kazuma, this is Jataro. He's a friend that I met recently." Carmine said. "Jataro, this is Kazuma. The boy I told you about."

"H-h-h-hi..." Jataro seemed to shrink away somewhat.

"Uh...hey." Kazuma looked upon him with confusion. "Is he a shy dude?"

"Kind of. Jataro... actually has something to tell you."